RODRIGUEZ FULFILLING CANSECO'S PREDICTION.

Byline: MATT McHALE Baseball

Seattle's Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his first home run since July 30 on Saturday and 42nd overall, and it is unlikely he can catch Roger Maris' single-season home run record.

But Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez appears poised to join another exclusive group, the 40-40 club for home runs and stolen bases.

Entering today's series finale with the Chicago White Sox, Rodriguez has 36 homers and 35 stolen bases. He never thought he would reach such a lofty plateau, but someone else did.

``I was 17 years old and Jose Canseco said `You'll do it,' '' Rodriguez said this past week. ``He said, `All you have to do is average five home runs and five stolen bases a month all season for 30-30.'''

Canseco was the first to do 40-40, in 1988 with Oakland. San Francisco's Barry Bonds joined him in 1996 and just missed last year.

``I know talent,'' said Canseco, now with the Blue Jays. ``In the off-season down in Miami, we were playing flag football and I saw his acceleration and said `Whoa!' I told him then - and this was about six years ago - that he could be the best shortstop in the majors.''

Is he closing in on that title?

``No, he's there now,'' Canseco said. ``There are some good ones, but Alex has more speed and more power than anyone else, and he can play the position.''

Rodriguez was delighted with the rave review, and with the memories of their first meetings in Miami.

``We'd play volleyball, basketball, flag football,'' he said. ``Jose can't play basketball at all, but he's great at the others. He gave me a lot of confidence, telling me that kind of thing when I was just a high school kid.''

Canseco has struggled with injuries in recent seasons, but he has a chance for another 40-40 season this year. He has 32 home runs and 26 stolen bases.

``The toughest part is the home runs,'' said Canseco, who said he didn't think 50-50 is possible. ``You walk, get a hit, get on base on an error, you can steal second and third and get two. You can get a steal on the back end of a double steal. The only way to get a home run is to hit one over the fence.''

BOWDEN A DODGER?

The last time Cincinnati GM Jim Bowden talked to the Dodgers, it was in late May about trading shortstop Barry Larkin. That is all about to change.

The Dodgers have begun seeking permission to talk to Bowden about filling their general manager position. Interim GM Tom Lasorda won't be back next season, but he has been put in charge of finding his successor.

It probably is a good time for Bowden to leave. He is in the midst of a feud with club president John Allen, who has been running the Reds during the suspension of owner Marge Schott.

Publicly, the two men deny any ill feelings and each have issued statements denouncing published reports about a rift. But the two have been strained since Allen asked Bowden to start slashing the payroll.

It got worse when Allen signed right-hander Pete Harnisch to a three-year contract while Bowden was trying to shop Harnisch.

Bowden compared the situation to the Dodgers' big May 15 Mike Piazza trade with Florida. Dodgers executive vice president Fred Claire was left out of the dealing when Fox took over the negotiations.

Bowden publicly says he's loyal to the Reds. But he loves to spend and wants to win, and the Reds can do neither right now. His name also has surfaced in Baltimore as a replacement for retiring Pat Gillick.

TEACHER AND PUPIL

Nolan Ryan was sitting in the box of Astros owner Drayton McLane's box Wednesday night to see Randy Johnson pitch. Ryan and Johnson are old friends and fans of each other.

``He helped me a lot,'' Johnson said. ``A lot of the success I had when I went to Seattle came from things he suggested.''

Rangers fans might not be thrilled with Ryan's helping an opposing pitcher, but Ryan said pitchers are pitchers, no matter what uniform they're wearing.

Like Ryan, Johnson was plagued by control problems early in his career. Johnson's problem was mechanical. Ryan developed perfect mechanics growing up in the New York Mets organization and never lost them.

``Here's a power pitcher, somebody I had something in common with, and we talked pitching,'' Ryan said. ``I don't look at it that way (as helping the opposition). We helped each other.''

The two have stayed friends and Ryan, who lives in Alvin (about 40 minutes south of the Astrodome), was thrilled to see the Astros acquire Johnson.

``I'd love to see a World Series in Texas, and maybe this will help us get one,'' he said.

INDIANS READY TO DEAL?

Cleveland has added Cecil Fielder in the wake of Jim Thome's hand injury. Thome will be out four to six weeks with a broken fifth metacarpal after getting hit by a Wilson Alvarez pitch last Friday.

But their major concern is if Kenny Lofton, David Justice and Sandy Alomar Jr. don't improve, the Indians won't last long in the postseason no matter what moves are made. Lofton (leadoff), Justice (usually No. 3 hitter) and Alomar (bottom third of the order) have key spots in the lineup. They've all played well below par this year.

Lofton: He's still having a better season in the leadoff spot than Marquis Grissom did in 1977, but has failed to ignite or inspire an offense that sorely needs a kick in the butt. He's hitting .274, which is far below his career average of .316 and his .333 average from last year with the Braves.

He has 11 homers and 54 RBI, but is hitting only .256 since the All-Star break.

After hitting .344 with six homers and 29 RBI in April, Justice has disappeared. He has hit .257 with 10 homers and 33 RBI since. Usually good against left-handers (.322 last year) Justice is batting .225 this season.

Justice has been unable to play much in the outfield because of offseason surgery on his left knee.

Last year Justice hit .329, 31 doubles, 33 HRs, 101 RBI.

Most knew Alomar wouldn't repeat last year's career season - .324 average, 37 doubles, 21 homers, 83 RBI, game-winning hit in All-Star game, 30-game hitting streak, and a great post-season.

But on a recent 12-game trip, Alomar batted just .105 and has a season average of .247 overall with six homers and 37 RBI. Last year, he hit .321 with runners in scoring position. Ths year it's .207.

HIT MAKERS

The 1999 option for NL MVP Larry Walker has kicked in, and that's good news for Walker and the Colorado Rockies. Walker says he wants to finish his career in Colorado.

``That was my decision four years ago, and four years later, it still is,'' he said.

And the Rockies are happy because they have one of the game's best players at a relatively cheap price.

Walker is earning $5.875 million this year, and the option year - which kicked in at 1,075 plate appearances in 1997-98 - is for only $5 million. There are 36 players, including the Dodgers' Bobby Bonilla, making more than Walker this season. There could be a renegotiation at some point, but Walker isn't about to complain about the four-year, $22-million-plus-option deal he signed before the 1995 season.

``I don't know how anybody in this world can be underpaid when you're making $5 million a year,'' he said.

Speaking of hitters, of Dante Bichette's 19 homers this year, 12 have either tied the game or put the Rockies ahead. The latest came Monday, when his grand slam broke a 2-2 tie in a 6-2 win. That came one day after he went 4 for 5 with five RBI that pushed him to the 100 mark for the fourth consecutive year.

``I probably appreciate that the most - coming through when it counts,'' Bichette said. ``I feel like I've been consistent. That's what I love to do more than anything - drive in runs. I feel I should drive in more than 100 every year.''

EXTRA INNINGS By Matt McHale

LEADING OFF

Orioles catcher Chris Hoiles hit two grand slams Friday night against the Cleveland Indians. It has happened just nine times in major-league history, making it far more rare than a perfect game, which has been done 13 times. Milwaukee Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger (1966) is the only National Leaguer. Hoiles is the third Baltimore player to do it, joining Jim Gentile and Frank Robinson.

STAT WATCH

It was the back-to-back shutouts by Braves left-hander Tom Glavine, who defeated San Diego on Thursday. The Braves were in danger of dropping behind the Padres for the league's best record. He also was following Greg Maddux, who was going for his 16th victory. Glavine won his 16th.

ROTO WATCH

Arizona's Tony Batista hit two home runs Tuesday, giving him five homers in his past 20 at-bats, over nine days. That has given him a career-high 10 in just 147 at-bats. Batista hit 17 home runs in Single-A and 16 in Double-A earlier in his career, but this is a surprise. Since Aug. 3, Batista has hit the franchise's first pinch homer, hit one off Kerry Wood and had his second two-homer game (the other with Oakland in 1996).

THE BUZZ

Randy Johnson has meant more to the Astros than just the three victories and two shutouts in his first 12 days with the club. The Astros, who average 27,631, have sold 52,000 and 40,000 for Johnson's two home starts. Club owner Drayton McLane Jr., once a long shot to sign Johnson (seeking $10 million per year for four years), is now seriously trying to sign him. It would be the first time in six years McLane has gone hard for a free agent. In 1992, he spent $38 million on Greg Swindell and Doug Drabek and got burned.

QUOTABLE 

``I'm a long way from 56. I know where the streak is and I know Pete (Rose) had 44 in the National League. But I come to the ballpark to contribute. I expect to get a hit every time up.''

- Baltimore's Eric Davis, who extended his hitting streak to 30 games Saturday. Former Yankee Joe DiMaggio holds the record with 56 in 1941.

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BOX: EXTRA INNINGS By Matt McHale (see text)